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When did all the office worker go back to work?



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I work in an very low key office setting and planning to go back to work a week after surgery but I just found out my surgeon usually requires 3-4 weeks off work! How long did you guys take to go back to your office jobs?

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My surgeon recommends 3 weeks but will support 2 weeks off for a sedentary office job. I am 5 days out from surgery and have been planning to take 3 weeks. Honestly, my recovery has been so easy and smooth so far that I think 2 weeks would be fine, but I have the sick time and think I will continue with the plan to take 3 weeks and make sure I feel 100% instead of going back early.


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Im going back tomorrow... two weeks post op. I feel great... even went to the mall today [emoji4]

HW: 256
SW: 238(4/25/18)
CW: 230
GW: 165

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I was off for 6 weeks, but could have gone back sooner. I did have a lot of sick time and vacation time to use, so I just took the six weeks off. Besides that, I had to learn to eat the correct foods and that does take time.

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I went back virtual for two days at my one week mark. Physically back in the office on day 11.

When virtual I was totally fine. My first day back I will admit I was tired like exhausted tired when I got home. I’ve been struggling getting my Protein in but am basically at 64 oz of Water and Soups no problem. I’m sure not getting 8!jours I’d sleep didn’t help.

Basically it’s doable it just depends on what type of office job you have and how you react to the surgery.

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I was off for three and a half weeks. Would've liked to take four full weeks but I don't get enough time off each year for that and can't afford unpaid time off.

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I booked 2 weeks off, was told by a nurse that I really needed 3. When surgery came I actually felt good to go by around 10 days. I was just lucky though I think. Had a really good quick recovery.

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I had my surgery on a Monday and went back the following Monday. I was fine but I was exhausted at the end of each day for several weeks. I slept 10 hours a night for 4 or 5 weeks. Had I had coverage at work I would have taken more time. My employer was compassionate and helped with a somewhat lighter work load for awhile.

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I had one week off, one week of 1/ days, then back to full time. But mostly, it's going to depend on how you feel.

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Ok - I'm a bit crazy, but I'm in a profession where I only get paid if I bill time - no vacation, no sick time, nada. I work from home 3 days, in the office 2.

Surgery Tuesday. (Worked Monday.) Home Wednesday. Slept Thursday.. Worked half a day from my couch Friday. Monday, went into the office from 10-3 instead of 9-5. Tuesday worked full day from home. By Wednesday - one week after hospital release - I was back to my routine of office Monday and Wednesday and work from home remaining days.

I can control my breaks and bathroom time. I can eat and drink at my desk. I also had two prior C-Sections and had to go back to work( (and try a case in a courtroom 1 hour away from home) six weeks after the birth of child 2. So maybe I have different tolerances.

I had no complications. My doc said go back when you want or stay out as long as you need. I'll sign the note either way.

Best of luck

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I am taking 2 weeks off. If I could I would try to swing 3 weeks, but due to wanting to finish out the school year I will go back after 2.

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I went back a week after surgery. Felt great my first week back to work (still on liquids), then had an extremely difficult time adjusting to anything solid and ended up having to take off weeks 3, 4 and 5 with several different issues (nausea, zero energy, blocked bowel). Everyone told me the first month would be a mix of really good and really bad, and that's exactly what I experienced. Looking back, I probably should have planned to take the full 4 weeks as directed by my doctor just to get adjusted to how much energy I'd have and eating/preparing new foods.

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I work from home and took 3 days and the weekend off of work. If I worked in an office today - 6 days after surgery- may have been an ok day to go back, but honestly, I’d say take more time if you can... I feel ok, but still have soreness, but I’m also tired.


HW 289
SW 262
VSG 5/2/18
Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

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Had surgery on Wednesday and went back to work Monday. I would have gone back Friday except I had already turned in my time sheet for the week. No complications and no issues. I am a Computer support Specialist. I was able to do all aspect of my job except to lift the heavy printers. Climbing under desks and moving desktop computers was a little slow going but I was able to do most everything.

Edited by dathvick

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My doctor said a week maybe two. It was fully four weeks before I could work. I’m an attorney and sit at a desk in my own home!!! I just couldn’t do it. I was very tired.


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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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